Exciting Things are Happening!!

 'Catawampus'. This delightful word with a definition of: askew or awry, pretty much describes this past week. I've been up and down, people around me have experienced the same, even the weather seems to be on a roller coaster ride. In short, it's almost as though Alice's Cheshire Cat has decided to temporarily leave Wonderland and play tricks on my life instead. Unfortunately for that cat I am a) used to mischievous cat faced creatures (thank you Faelina) and b) too excited about what is happening this year to be bogged down by it's chicanery. It's actually quite amazing what I have to look forward to.

I'm going to become an aunt to Kairi's little boy and Tori's little something (she's going to be surprised!) in June!! I will be GOING HOME TO ALASKA for Christmas to meet these two little babies (and see the rest of my family of course!), and I haven't been home since 2013. I have a whole new state to explore and discover this summer and fall. All of that in and of itself is amazing, but there does happen to be one other thing...

Seven months ago, I wrote "...I know now I need to expend every effort to one day return. After all when one encounters something whose whispers beckon so strongly, a place who echoes a soul so perfectly matching their own...what other choice is there..."

I was referring of course to Norway, the country I'd spent the previous month calling home. My feelings towards leaving were similar to my opinion of an elephant using me as a soccer ball and I've missed desperately every day since I've left. But now my homesickness for Stavanger is at least temporarily appeased because I am going back!!!!! I depart on June 4th  for two weeks of climbing mountains, exploring small towns, and walking the cobblestone streets of Stavanger. I can scarcely believe my luck that I get to go to two years in a row. And I'll be there over my birthday - how resoundingly fantastic is that?!!

 I am enthusiastically, ecstatically, excited, and I just had to share that with you all!!!